Key-cabinet for watchmen&#39;s time-registering systems.



Y H. JENKINS. KEY CABINET FOR WATGHMENS TIME REGISTERING SYSTEMS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 14.1911.

1,126,01 9. Patented Jan. 26, 1915.

iji

.gw/a E a I I I ,L/Z% J L J GYAIWWLW l/V1144 woes I; Woe w loc M 0& 1 1 t 0111c axlAzmM/m P1312, M

n: NURRIS PETERS C0. PHOYo-LITHQ. wAsHlNGrON, D

CHARLES H. JENKINS, 0E BELLEVILLE, NEW JERSEY,

Jill e ASSIG-NOR TO NEWMAN CLCCK COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

KEY-CABINET FOR VIATGEMENS TIME-REGISTERING. SYSTEMS.

Application filed July 14, 1911.

To all tax/1.0m it at ray (O/506771 lie it known that l, CHARLES H. JENKINS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Belleville, county of Essex, and State of blew Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Key-Cabinets for /Vatchmens Time-Eegistering Systems, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to watchmens time-registering systems of the type in which each station visited by the watchman in his rounds equipped with a key adapted when inserted in the register-clock to cause a time imprint to be made on a record sheet in the clock. This clock the watchman carries with him, and at each station inserts the key belonging thereto to record the time of his visit to the station, so that at the end of his tour of duty the timeimprints on the record sheet ill show at a glance whether or not all the stations were visited and the time at which they were reached.

The present invention relates more particularly to the receptacles or cabinets located at the stations for holding the keys belonging thereto, and its chief object is to provide an im roved cabinet of sightly and unobtrusive appearance for use in hotels and other buildings where the appearance of an object is of importance as well as its utility.

A further object is to provide a cabinet, particularly for use in hotels, of such charactor as to diminish as much as possible the noise incident to taking out and replacing the key.

To these and other ends the invention consists in the novel features of c0nstruction and combinations of elements hereinafter described.

The preferred embodiment of the inven tion is illustrated in the accompanying dra ing, in which Figure 1 is a longitudinal section showing the cabinet closed and the key in place. This figure also shows in dotted lines the cabinet open to afford access to the key. Fig. 2 is a horizontal section on line 11-11.

The device comprises generally a metallic casing or framework 10, preferably of rectangular form, sunk in the wall 11 and having its front closed by a wall plate 12 resting against the Wall around the opening Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan 28,

Serial IlO. 638,447.

which receives the casing. fit the top the front plate is provid "l with a pair of spaced lugs 13, between which the upper edge of the casing fits, as shown. (in the top of the casing is a lug l i having a threaded bore to receive a clamping screw 15 extending; rearwardly through the front plate 12. Gn the inside of the casing a: the bottom is a similar lug 1b to receive the lower clamp ing screw 17. By setting up these screws the front plate may be bound firmly to the casing and brought into close contact with the surface of the wall.

In the cover plate 12 is a central rectangular opening, and at the bottom of the opening is a pair of inwardly extending lugs 18 to which are pivotally connected two arms 19 extending downwardly and forwardly from a horizontal base plat 20. On the front of this base plate and fastened thereto in any convenient way is a closure or door 21 having its edge rabbeted as at 22 to fit closely the edge of the opening in the front plate 12. he front plate and the downwardly swinging door are preferably made of brass, polished or otherwise embellished to afford a pleasing appearance. At the top of the door is a rotary latch 23 to engage the edge of opening in the front plate 12 and so look the door in closed position. A knob is provided on the door to operate the latch.

The receptacle for the registering key 25 is in the form of a rectan ular block 26, composed in whole or in part of non-acoustic material as for example soft wood, provided with deep cylindrical bore 27 to receive the key. This receptacle is mounted between and secured to lugs 28 on the door 21. The bottom of the bore or chamber is lined with a sheet 29 of cloth, leather, soft rubber or the like, to deaden the sound as the key is tossed into the receptacle.

The registering key is fastened to one end of a retaining chain 30, the other end of which passes through a hole in the base plate 20. Two pieces of coil spring 31, wormed onto the terminal link of the chain. fasten the same to the base plate.

Fastened by one end to the base plate are two U-shaped springs 32, the other ends of which are looped as shown and bear on the bottom of the casing 10.

securely When the watchman unlatches the cabinet by turning the knob 24 the springs 32 throw the door outwardly and downwardly, and with it the key receptacle 26, bringing the latter into easy reach. Removing the key the watchman inserts it in the clock, and having made the desired registration replaces the key and closes the cabinet. The receptacle being made of or lined with nonacoustic material the replacement of the key can cause but slight noise at most, in no case sufficient to disturb persons sleeping in nearby rooms. A latch which must be turned by hand to lock and unlock the cabinet is preferred to av spring or self-acting latch, as the latter might encourage slamming of the door in closing it. The front or face plate 12 and door 21, the only parts exposed to view, can be made as ornamental as desired, and being practically flush with the wall are not at all obtrusive in appearance.

As before stated, the construction herein specifically shown and described is merely the preferred embodiment of the invention. The same can be embodied in various other terms without departure from its proper spirit and scope as defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A key cabinet for watchmens time regis' tering systems, comprising, in combination, a casing adapted to be embedded in a wall and having its outer side open, :1 lug on the outside of the upper part of the casing having a screw threaded bore, a lug on the inside of the lower part of the casing having a screw threaded bore, a plate arranged over the said open side of the casing having screw holes at either end thereof, clamping screws extending through the holes in the plate into said lugs to clamp the plate securely to the casing, an opening in said plate, an outwardly opening closure hinged 'on the inner side of the said closure, and a substantially U-shaped spring member, having one arm secured to the key receptacle and the other resting against and movable upon the bottom of the casing to cause the casing to open. I

2. A key cabinet for watchmens time registering systems, comprising, in combination, a casing adapted to be fully embedded in a wall and having its outer side open, lugs on the upper and lower sides of the casing and having horizontal bores therein, a plate adapted to lie over the open side of the casing and having perforations near its ends in alinement with the bores in the said lugs, means passing through the bores in the cover plate and lugs to secure the cover plate upon the casing, a rectangularly shaped opening in said cover plate, a closure for said opening, a vertical key receptacle mounted on the inner side of the said closure, means 011 said closure for locking the closure to thecover plate, and a substantially U-shaped spring member located between the bottom of the casing and the vertical key receptacle, and having one of its arms secured to said key receptacle and the other resting against and slidable upon the bottom of the casing, for opening the closure when the same is unlocked.

In testimony whereof I ailiX my signature in the presence of two subscribing witnesses- CHARLES H. JENKINS.

lVitnesses l M. Lawson DYER. S. S. DUNHAM.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, 1). C. 

